Use Google Pay for transportation

For participating transit systems, you can purchase, store, and use digital copies of tickets.

Transit systems that support Google Pay

Important: Near-field communications (NFC) transactions with Google Pay on iPhone are currently not supported.

You can use Google Pay at the fare terminal of some transit systems with a supported credit or debit card. For others, you can purchase and save a ticket or card to Google Pay and use it at the point of entry.

Google Pay only works with some transit systems. For more information, check your transit system’s website.

Pay for transportation

How to pay on transit with Google Pay

Tip: Your transit system may not be the same as others. For detailed instructions, go to your transit system's website.

Step 1: Check ways to pay for your transit system

To learn the different ways you can pay to ride, go to your transit system’s website.

• If your transit system accepts supported credit or debit cards at the gate card reader:
  1. If you haven’t already, add a payment method to Google Pay.
  2. At the transit entrance, wake up your phone.
  3. Hold your phone next to the card reader and wait until you get a blue check mark.

If you need a transit-specific ticket or card to ride your transit system, go to the next step.

Step 2: Buy a ticket or card

Through your transit system

1. To buy a ticket or card, use your transit system’s website or mobile app.
2. Save the ticket or card to Google Pay.
   • If you don’t find “Save to Google Pay” or “Save to phone,” you can’t use your ticket or card with Google Pay. For more information, contact your transit system administrator.

Through the Google Pay app

For some transit systems, you can purchase a ticket or card with a Google Pay app.

1. Open the Google Pay app .
2. At the top right, tap your profile picture Wallet.
3. Tap Add a card.
4. Choose your transit system.
   • If you don’t find your transit system, follow the instructions in "Through your transit system."
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Save a physical transit card

Some transit agencies let you save your physical transit card to Google Pay using the transit agency’s app. Contact the transit agency or visit their website to find out if this is an option.

Step 3: Activate your ticket or card

For some transit systems, you can purchase a ticket or card with a Google Pay app.

1. Open the Google Pay app .
2. At the top right, tap your profile picture Wallet.
3. From the bottom of the screen, swipe up.
4. Find and tap the ticket or card you want to use.
5. Tap Activate.

Step 4: Use your ticket or card

1. When you get to the transit entrance, wake up your phone.
   • For some transit systems, you may need to unlock your phone and choose your ticket or card.
2. Hold your phone to the card reader and wait until you get a blue check mark.
   • For some transit systems, you may have to show your ticket or card to an attendant.

Tip: For added security, you can set up your phone so that it must be unlocked to complete an NFC transaction.

To turn on this setting:

1. Go to Settings .
2. Tap Connected devices Connection preferences NFC.
3. Turn on Require device unlock for NFC.

If you can’t find this option, you may need to update your phone to the latest version of Android.

Find, change, or delete your ticket or card

Find or show your ticket or card

If you need to show your ticket or card to a fare inspector or want to find your ticket or card:

1. Open the Google Pay app .
2. At the top right, tap your profile picture Wallet.
3. From the bottom of the screen, swipe up.
4. Find and tap the ticket or card you want to use.

Switch to a different ticket or card

For some transit systems, if you don’t want to use the current activated ticket or card, go to the ticket or card you want to use and tap Activate. Your other ticket or card will be deactivated.

Tip: If you used the ticket or card once, deactivating it doesn’t extend the ticket or card’s expiration.

Delete a ticket or card

Important: If you delete a ticket or card, you can’t get it back. You can delete expired tickets or cards to remove them from your list.

1. Open the Google Pay app .
2. At the top right, tap your profile picture Wallet.
3. From the bottom of the screen, swipe up.
4. Find and tap the ticket or card you want to delete.
5. In the top right, tap Menu Delete card.

Transfer ticket or card to another device

For some transit systems, you can transfer your ticket or card to another device with the app.

1. Open the Google Pay app .
2. At the top right, tap your profile picture Wallet.
3. From the bottom of the screen, swipe up.
4. Find and tap the ticket or card you want to transfer.
5. Tap Menu Move to another device.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Find where you used your ticket or card

If you have a 24-hour or multi-day pass, you can find where you used the ticket or card.

1. Open the Google Pay app .
2. At the top right, tap your profile picture Wallet.
3. From the bottom of the screen, swipe up.
4. Find and tap the ticket or card. You can find the station names, dates, and times of where you’ve been.

Fix a problem

Transit pass or ticket or card disappeared

For assistance, contact the transit authority's customer service.

Can’t activate ticket or card

If you have issues when you activate or deactivate your ticket or card:

1. Make sure that your device is online.
2. Check if your device has an unofficial, modified operating system. Google Pay only works on devices with unmodified operating systems.
3. Check if the ticket or card is already activated.
4. If you still have issues, contact your transit system for more help.

Can’t pay at point of entry with iPhone

Near-field communications (NFC) transactions with Google Pay on iPhone are currently not supported. You can buy a ticket or card to use at the point of entry.

CVC error when you try to purchase a ticket or card

Contact your bank for help.

Can't buy a ticket or card or add money through Google Maps

In Google Maps, you might find a banner that lets you know you can use Google Pay with a nearby transit system. To learn how to board that transit system with Google Pay, tap the banner.

If you can’t buy a ticket or card or add money from the Google Maps app, open the Google Pay app. Then, purchase a ticket or card or add money to an existing pass.

Dispute a transit charge

Contact the transit authority’s customer service. To view the transit agency’s support information, tap your transit pass and scroll.

Can’t find transit payments

When transit systems charge your credit or debit card, it usually takes one day for the charge to appear in your app. For some cards like Mastercard, charges may not appear for up to 5 days. To review your fares, check the transit authority’s app or website.

Can't use WageWorks for transit

Wageworks Mastercard cards can be used for in-app purchases of tickets or cards or passes and for balance with transit apps. However:

• Wageworks Visa cards aren’t currently supported.
• For tapping on payments terminals, Wageworks doesn’t yet support adding these cards to Google Pay.